A Goodreads user asked:

I get the notion, after reading a lot of reviews, that this book tries waaaaaay too hard to shoehorn every single issue-of-the-day into it (feminism, racism, sexism, colonialism...). True or not so much?

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5 years ago
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Sara Prado Sexism and racism and colialism aren’t “issues of the day.” They’re real serious themes running throughout history. They definitely play a part in the book, but I wouldn’t say they’re “shoehorned” in. It’s the 50’s and lots of problematic stuff is going on... so... the book includes it and the character reacts to it. But I didn’t feel it was forced in. I’d venture to say anyone who felt like those topics were uncomfortably forced upon them probably are privileged enough not to have to think about them in their daily life and doing so makes them uncomfortable. More of a personal aversion to thinking about privilege than a fault in the book.

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Kaye Salter I would say of the concepts you've listed, the really one overt one is racism (but eugenics specifically). However, the other things are implied as much in literally any other book. If you want to read something into it, you can. 'Death of the Author' and all that jazz.

I wouldn't say anything feels shoehorned in though. I wouldn't say it's pulpy though if you know a lot about Gothic Lit. Very in honor of Gothic Lit, but subtlety points out the weird number of the authors that were big into eugenics. Clearly the author has a love for Lovecraft... just not him as a person

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Tiff M Those "issues of- the- day" have always been actual issues for the people negatively impacted, but in this only racism is really explored with depth. Eugenics plays a significant role and the bodies of Mexican workers were buried in unmarked graves. I guess the main character wanting to be more than a wife and mother would be considered feminism by some conservative readers. There is also a mention that as women they have no power so she cannot just take her cousin away for psychological treatment without the husband's consent or the help of her father, but that's the reality of the time.

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Sara Tiede I would say if you haven't noticed several of these "issues of the day" in established classics of gothic literature, you may not have been wholely paying attention. As for trying too hard and "shoehorning" the issues in? I would say any issues that are present, and yes it does cover several, do not feel at all forced or superfluous. These were legitimate issues the characters would have faced, so why the objection to seeing them represented in fiction?

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JJMill

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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Deirdre I feel that the issues that were brought up were very organic to the story being told. I think it is sometimes hard for people who are not as affected by racism, sexism, colonialism, etc. to imagine how deeply these issues impact those affected by them, to the point where books with these themes get (often unfairly) get labeled as being "too political" or "too PC". Are these issues sometimes handled in books in clumsy, heavy-handed or shallow manner? Sure. I don't feel that this was the case with Mexican Gothic. To me it was an entertaining read that I feel also touched on important and topical issues (the impact of colonialism, for instance, is something that resonates powerfully and harmfully to this day) in a deft manner.

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Mike A bit, but it isn't too bad, The heroine certainly has some ideas that seem more consistent with a 2010s mindset than a 1950s mindset, though mostly with respect to eugenics. Colonialism is there as well, but I don't think that's unfair given that the antagonists are English colonials (which did indeed exist in 1950s Mexico). I didn't find it overly distracting.

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Shahira8826 Yes, this novel takes a stand against sexism and racism, but these issues are not shoehorned at all, in my opinion. If you read it, you'll see that for yourself. Don't pay too much attention to reviews and don't let preconceptions deprive you of a highly enjoyable reading experience.

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Jessica There are definitely books that are too heavy handed in preaching certain viewpoints, even though they are views I agree with. In this book, I did not get that sense at all. All the issues were included in a way that fit into the story organically.

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Mayka Totally , and done quite badly .

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Shawn Only in reviews and blurbs about it, oh, racism, failed pseudoscience of eugenics, sure—maybe it pretends a rudimentary knowledge of such things. But if you want a story about that, I’d describe how immigrants are treated in America by the half of us who love Herr Trump in 2021, than this silly Horror book.
The cover is pretty, but after reading chapter one you know who the good guys are who will win the battle against supernatural evil with a bit of botany and colonial racism thrown in.

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